_Adjutant._ Oh, Sir, thy zeal hath mated with thy conscience
And bred i' the mind mistrustful doubts and fears,
A savage brood, which being come to manhood
Do fight with sweet content and eat her up.

_Colonel._ Alas! it is the part of those who govern
To play the miser with their present good
For fear of future ill. But who comes here?

_Enter_ Messenger.

_Messenger._ So please you I am sent of General Blood
To bid you wait his coming.

_Colonel._ When?

_Messenger._ To-morrow.
He purposes to visit your command
About the dinner-hour. [_Exit._

_Colonel._ Now let th' occasion
Be servant to my wits. "The dinner-hour."
Twice hath he come; and first upon parade
Inspected all the men; the second time
The transport visited. Surmise hath grown
To certainty. He will inspect the dinners!
Go, faithful Adjutant, stir up the cooks
And bid them thicken stews and burnish pots.

_Adjutant._ I take my leave at once and go. [_Exit_ Adjutant.

_Colonel._ Farewell.
Now with elusive Chance I'll try a fall
And on the fateful issue risk my all. [_Flourish. Exit._

SCENE II.--_A kitchen. In the middle a dixie. Thunder._

_Enter_ Three Cooks.

_First Cook._ Thrice the dreadful message came.

_Second Cook._ Thrice the mystic buzzer buzzed.

_Third Cook._ Sergeant cries, "'Tis time, 'tis time."

_First Cook._ Round about the dixie go;
In the dense ingredients throw--
Extra bully, every lump
Pinched from some forbidden dump,
Biscuits crunched to look like flour,
Cabbage sweet and onions sour--
Make the broth as thick as glue.
The General will inspect the stew.

_All._ Fire burn and dixie bubble,
Double toil or there'll be trouble.

_Second Cook._ 'Taters in the cauldron sink,
Peeled by hands as black as ink;
Portions of a slaughtered cat,
Piece of breakfast-bacon fat,
Bits of boot and bits of stick--
Make the gruel slab and thick.

_All._ Fire burn and dixie bubble,
Double toil or there'll be trouble.

_Third Cook._ German sausage won in fight
On some dark and stormy night,
Dim and murky watercress
Stolen from a Sergeants' Mess,
Slabs of cheese and chunks of ham,
Lumps of pl